Loose-leaf binder



April 25, 1939. 1 COOPER r-:T AL

LOOSE-LEAF' BINDER Filed Nov. 15, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l E- Jn Plil 25,1939- J. COOPER ET Al. 2,156,147

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 13, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a I 20 2z 4/ 2752 M 46 i. Il 46 l 44 A ll 5' 47 /Z E' Gf 45 4/ n 46 l I 42 /0 I 4a Ir;'f M if 'A l 22 l l Z7 INVENTORS: @was gaver @la M. ll,

ATTORNEYS.

April 25, 1939. J. COPER ET AL 2,156,147

' LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f1E-` EINVENTOR5 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES dedie? PATENT OFFICELOOSE-LEAF BINDER York Application November 13, 1936, Serial No. 110,716

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the type embodying aback member, a cover hinged to the back member, a plurality of leafimpaling posts, the back member being detachably secured to the ends ofthe posts and, when detached from like ends of the posts, is movableaway from the posts, to permit insertion and removal of the leaves inthe binder.

The binder herein referred to is of the type employed generally inpublic onices, and in which public records, such as deeds, mortgagesetc., are recorded. It is accordingly necessary to detach the backmember from the posts to permit insertion of new pages each time aninstrument is recorded.

Heretofore, after the posts have been detached from the back member andthe additional sheets inserted, it has been necessary to manually movethe back member toward the posts into post engaging position, and thenclose the cover. The closing of the cover, after the 'back member hasbeen moved into post engaging position, may, per se, effect securementof the back member to the post. However, movement of the cover towardclosed position, when the back member is swung out away from the postsand the leaves, produces no useful result inasmuch as the cover simplymoves about its pivoted connection to the back member.

30 The general object of this invention is a binder of the type referredto, embodying structure which is operable to automatically effectmovement of the back member into post engaging position during closingof the cover. That is, after one side d of the back member has beendetached from like ends of the leaf impaling posts and swung outwardly,it is not necessary to manipulate the lback: member into post engagingposition, but this. movement is accomplished automatically by simplyclosing the cover of the binder in the ordinary normal manner.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure l is a plan View, partly in section, of the binder with bothcovers lying in flat open position, and with one side of the back memberdetached from the ends of the posts.

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view, with parts in elevation, takenthrough the back member and contiguous portions of the covers, with (Cl.12S-23) tion and one side of the back member detached from the leafposts.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, with the vback member swungoutwardly from the post and leaves.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the post securing housings anda contiguous portion of the back member and adjacent cover.

The binder embodies a rigid back member comprising, in this instance, aplate I0, each longitudinal edge of which is formed with a plurality ofspaced apart hinge members il. An outer back I2 is secured in spacedapart relation to the plate I by means of a plurality of spaced apartbracesv I3 extending transversely of the outer back I2 and being securedthereto. The ends of the braces I3 terminate in hingle eyes I4. Theouter back I2 is finished with a suitable outer nishing layer I5.

The covers here shown are of usual laminated' construction consisting ofinner and outer layers it, Il, between which is secured a metallic stripor plate I8 which projects beyond the inner edge of the cover and whichis also formed with a plurality of spaced apart hinges I9. The hinges IIand i9 are arranged coaxially and are pivotally connected on rod 2S,whereby the covers are movable on the pivot rods 2i) into open andclosed positions. The outer surface of the cover is also provided with asuitable finishing layer 2 I which pref erably extends between thehinged joint described and the outer back member I2, as at 22.

A plurality of leaf impaling posts 25 are arranged in spaced apartrelationship and extend transversely of the plate Ill. The back memberis provided with means for detachably securing the ends of the posts tothe back member with the posts arranged in spaced apart relationship tothe plate Iii.

As here shown, this means comprises a tubular housing 2B rectangular incross section and being provided along one longitudinal edge with aplurality of spaced apart hinged members 21. The hinge members II, I4,IS and 2l are arranged coaxially on the pivot rod 2Q forming a pianohinge between `the back member, the covers, and the housings 2B, wherebythe covers are movable on the pivot rod 2i) into open and closedposition, and the housings 25 swing about the pivot rods 20 into and outof post engaging position.

The inner and outer sides of the housings 25 are provided with aperturesSii arranged so as to receive the ends of the posts 25. A'latch bar 3lis slidably mounted in each housing 25 and is provided with cut outportions 32 adjacent each of the openings 3Q in the housings. Thecutouts or apertures 32 in bars 3i are arranged in pairs and separatedby a transversely extending partition 33. -The latch bar 3| extendsoutwardly through one end of the housing and is provided with a ngerpiece 35. A spring 36 is inserted between the inner end of the latch bar3| and the adjacent end of the housing and yieldingly moves the latchbar toward the open end of the housing. The ends of the posts are formedwith notches to receive the partition 33. One side wall 3l' of the notchis formed straight, and the opposite wall is formed with an angular camsurface 38 adjacent the outer end of the posts, which terminates in aledge 39.

When the housings 26 are moved about the pivot rods 20 toward the endsof the post 25, the partition 33 engages the cam surface 38 causing thebar to move inwardly against the pressure of spring 36. After thepartition 33 passes under the ledge 39, spring 36 urges the bar 3|toward the open end of the housing, moving the partition 33 under theledge 39 and thus detachably securing the housing 26 to the ends of theposts 25, as illustrated at the upper left of Figure l. Preferably, ahousing 26 is secured along each longitudinal side of the plate I6, inorder that the posts 25 may be detached at either end to permitinsertion and removal of the leaves from either the front or the back ofthe binder.

It will be observed, as the description proceeds, that the constructionand arrangement of the housing 26, or their equivalent, may beconsiderably modied without departing materiallliy from the scope ofthis invention. For example, the housings may be rigidly secured to theback member, or the back member be secured to the ends of the posts 25by means equivalent to the housings and latch bar 3|.

When it is desired to remove or insert additional leaves in the binder,one of the covers is moved to open position, and the latch bar 3| ispressed inwardly by nger piece 35, moving the partition members 33 frombeneath the ledges 39, permitting the housing 26 to swing outwardly fromengagement with the ends of the posts 25. The entire back member is thenswung outwardly from the posts and the leaves about the pivot 26 at theo-pposite side of plate Ill, as illustrated in Figure 3. The leaves areillustrated by dotted outline in Figures 2 and 3. When the operation ofremoving or inserting the leaves is completed, the back member is movedinto vertical position, Figure 2 and the detached housing 26 is movedinto vertical position, Figure 2, and the detached housing 26 is thenmoved about the pivot 20 into engagement with the ends of the posts.

rThis invention has to do particularly with the structure for effectingmovement of the back member into post engaging position, and comprisesmeans carried by the back member and cooperable with the cover forautomatically effecting movement of the back member upon closingmovement of the cover.

As here shown, this means comprises a pair oi links 4t, 4| for eachcover. One end of the link 4| is pivoted to the housing 26, as at 412,or rather to a projection 43 secured to the inner side of the housing.The opposite end of the link 4| is pivoted to one end of the link 46, asat 44, and the opposite end of this link 46 is pivoted to a bracket i5secured centrally o1 the back plate i3. A chain or cord 46 is secured tothe outer end of each of the inner links 46 and passes around a pulley4l journalled on a shaft 43 extending transversely beneath the backplate I6, The

opposite end of the chain 46 is connected to a tension spring 49 securedto the back plate, as at 53. The spring 49, through chain 46, yieldinglymoves the outer end'oi the link 46 toward the back plate it andaccordingly, tends to rotate the housing 26 outwardly against the coveror cover plate it. When the housing is secured to the end of the posts,the links 46, 4|, assume an angular relationship as shown by the linksassociated with the bottom housing in Figure 2. When the housing 26 isdetached from the ends of the posts, as previously described, and thehousing permitted to rotate outwardly about the pivot 26 with the coverin open position, the links 46, 4|, assume the position shown in Figure2. The inner end of the link 4| is provided with a stop 52 which coactswith the link 46 intermediate its pivot points and prevents the links ortoggle from straightening out. That is, the pivot 42 and the pivot onbracket 45 are arranged to one side of the central pivot 44 when thehousing is swung outwardly away from the ends oi' the posts, see Figures2 and 3.

When the cover is moved toward closed position, it swings about thepivot 2t until it engages the detached and outwardly swung housing 26.Further closing movement of the cover relative to the back member isprevented inasmuch as the links 46, 4|, are maintained in the positionshown in Figures 2 and 3 by chain 46 and spring 49. This position andrelationship of the links 40, @ll is maintained until the back member isswung to a position substantially parallel with the posts 25, and withthe housing 26 in post engaging position. At this time, further pivotalmovement of the back member ceases on account of the oppositelongitudinal edge of the back plate lil engaging the opposite housing 26and further closing movement of the cover is then transferred to thedetachedV housing 26 and tends to rotate the same inwardly about thepivot 2li. Due to the relative arrangement and position of the operatingparts, this movement of the detached housing 2t about its pivot 2|]effects a substantially endwise movement to the outer link 4|, causingthe toggle to break outwardly from the back plate lll on the centralpivot 44, and the adjacent ends cf the levers 46, 4|, move outwardlyfrom the back plate Il) until the detached housing 2.6 is moved intopost engaging position. When this position is reached, the slide bar 3|is automatically latched over the ledges 3S of the ends of the posts 25.As previously stated, the binder may be provided with a housing 26pivoted adjacent each edge and in which there is slidably mounted anidentical slide bar 3| and an additional series of links 4|), 4| arepivotally connected to the second housing and the back member in themanner above described.

It will be observed that when the links 46, 4|, associated with thedetached housing, are in substantially straight position, as illustratedin Figures 2 and 3, the associated spring 49 easily maintains the linksin this position during pivotal movement of the back about the pivot 2Uof the closed cover. During this movement of the back member toward theposts 25, the force exerted against the detached housing 26 by theassociated' open cover is substantially at right angles to the backplate i6 and accordingly, the toggle formed by the links 46, 4| does nottend to break out during this movement. However, after the back memberhas been moved into normal vertical position, as indicated in Figure 2,

the pivotal movement of the open cover toward closed position imparts apivotal movement to the detached housing 26 which exerts a forcesubstantially parallel to the back plate I0, whereby the toggle formedby the links 40, 4l, is readily broken .against the action of the spring49, and the detached housing permitted to swing about the pivot 2li intoengagement with the ends of the posts 25.

It will also be observed that during pivotal movement o-f the backmember toward the posts 25, the spring 49 associated with the links 40,4l, connected to the attached housing, bottom housing Figures 2 and 3,tends to urge the back member toward the posts 25, and as the backmember approaches the posts, the angularity of the links 40, 4|,associated with the attached housing increases, and when the back memberhas assumed vertical position, as shown in Fig'- ure 2, the forceexerted by the spring 49 is sucient to maintain the back in verticalposi'- tion and prevent it from swinging outwardly away from the postsand leaves during the remaining closing movement of the cover from theposition shown in Figure 2. That is, the action of the second spring 49is not opposed to the inward pivotal movement of the back member, butrather exerts a force in aid of such movement. Also, the linkageassociated with the detached housing operates to maintain the backmember in parallel position with respect to the posts 25. It will beobserved, Figure 2, that the pivot 44, when the detached housing andassociated cover are in parallel relationship to the posts, is locatedto one side of the opposite cover pivot 20. Accordingly, the forceexerted on this linkage by the pivotal movement of the detached housingand cover is in a direction toward the attached housing and away fromthe back member toward the open edge of the book. With this relativearrangement, the binder may be provided with only one detachable housingand the full automatic closing feature performed by the linkage andspring associated with said housing.

The inner edges of the leaves centrally of the back member are notched,or cut away, as at 60, to provide an operating space for the links 40,4I.

The loose leaf binder described is fully automatic in that after it hasbeen manipulated to open position, the back member is reassembled andsecured to the ends of the posts simply by closing the open `cover inthe ordinary manner, and it is not necessary to first manipulate theback member into post engaging position and subsequently close thecover.

It will be observed that the attached housing is held rmly against theinner side of the closed cover by the associated links 40, 4|, andspring 49, and the posts 25 are maintained in upstanding position and inalinement due to the fact that the ends of the posts extend through thesides of the housings and are firmly secured thereto by latch bar 3 I.

What we claim is:

l. A loose leaf binder including a back member, a cover pivoted alongeach side of the back member, a plurality of leaf impaling postsextending transversely of the back member and pivotally connected at oneend to the back member, said back member being movable about one coverpivot toward and from like ends of said posts, means carried by the backmember for detachably securing the back member to said posts uponengagement of said means with the rality of leaf impaling posts, saidhousings being movable about their pivots. into and out of engagementwith said posts, means carried by the housings and operable, uponengagement of the housings with the ends of the posts, to detachablysecure the ends of the posts to the housings and being manually operableto release said post ends, said back member being movable about a coverpivot away from the leaves, when the housing adjacent the opposite coveris released from said posts, to permit removal and insertion of theleaves, and a second means, cooperable with the back member and saiddetached housing, to effect movement of said back member toward theleaves upon closing movement of the cover adjacent the released housingand to permit pivotal movement of the housing by the cover to postengaging position.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover hinged alongeach edge of the: back member, a plurality of leaf impaling postsextending transversely of the back member between said covers, means forpivotally securing like ends of the posts to the back member adjacentone edge thereof, said back member being provided with means adjacentits opposite edge for detachably securing lthe opposite ends of saidposts to the back member, said back member being movable about saidpivot when the opposite ends of the posts are detached from the backmember, whereby the detached edge of the back member may be swungoutwardly from said posts and leaves to permit insertion and removal ofthe leaves, means cooperable with the back member and the post securingmeans on the detached edge of the back member, to effect movement of theback member toward said posts during closing movement of said coveradjacent the detached edge of the back member.

4. A loose leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover pivoted alongeach edge of the back member, a` plu-rality of posts secured at likeends adjacent one edge of the back member and extending transversely ofsaid member, means mounted on the opposite edge of said back member andoperable to detachably secure the opposite ends of the posts to the backmember, said back member being movable away from the posts when the sameare detached, means tending to urge said back member toward said posts,and means operable, upon closing of the cover adjacent said postssecuring means, to move said back member toward the posts.

5. A loose leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover hinged to eachlongitudinal edge of the back member, a housing mounted on the p-ivot ofeach cover hinge, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extendingtransversely of the back member and being detachably secured at theirends to said housings, each of said housings, when detached from theposts, being movable about its pivot into engagement with the inner sideof the adjacent cover when the same is in opened position, and said backmember and detached housing being movable away from said posts to permitremoval and insertion of leaves, and means` 13. A loose leaf bindercomprising a back member, a cover hinged to each side of the backmember, a plurality of leaf impaling posts extending transversely of theback member and being pivotally secured thereto at like ends adjacentone side of the same, the opposite side of the back member having meansfor detachably interlocking with the opposite ends of the posts uponengagement with the same, said last mentioned side w of the back memberbeing movable from said posts when detached therefrom to permitinsertion and removal of the leaves, and means cooperable with said backmember and the cover adjacent said detached side to automatically movesaid back member toward the posts and for moving the means carriedthereby into engagement with the ends of the posts during closing ofsaid cover.

JAMES COOPER.

J OHN M. WALL.

